2024 Draft Prospects

[luciano-davidwesley]

Watching the first half of Kentucky v Florida and I really think Reed Sheppard is going to be very good. He can do it all - initiate an offense, shoot, drive to the rim, plays much bigger than his size. He's just got such incredible basketball IQ.

He finishes efficiently at the rim through traffic despite his size. He has that innate ability to hold up the layup in mid air to avoid a block and soft hands to still get it in. It's obviously going to be harder doing that against NBA players but he's so crafty and smart that he's going to find a way to make it work IMO.

[Snidely FC]

Johnny Furphy playing like a Top 10 pick of late

The emergence of Johnny Furphy over the past few weeks has eliminated one of Kansas' weaknesses, which was a lack of a consistent player outside its big four veterans. The freshman from Australia has started the past six games and scored in double figures every time he has played 20 or more minutes this season. He's averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and shooting 43.9% from 3 in his past five games.

"He's every bit of 6-foot-8 if not taller, he's athletic vertically and he makes shots," a coach said. "He spaces the floor. He changes things. It changes everything."

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

;t=99s

[GiggitySmalls]

If we could find a way to maybe move the pick we acquired for rozier on draft night for Sheppard I'd be down. I think if we can draft Cody Williams and Sheppard we can start to put something together alongside Melo and Miller. I know it's a long shot to get both but one can dream. But personally at this point I'm very locked in on Cody Williams. I think he can be as good as anyone in this draft amd he should be available when we pick.

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[Diop]

G'day, mate, Johnny Furphy playing like a Top 10 pick of late

The emergence of Johnny Furphy over the past few weeks has eliminated one of Kansas' weaknesses, which was a lack of a consistent player outside its big four veterans. The freshman from Australia has started the past six games and scored in double figures every time he has played 20 or more minutes this season. He's averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and shooting 43.9% from 3 in his past five games.

"He's every bit of 6-foot-8 if not taller, he's athletic vertically and he makes shots," a coach said. "He spaces the floor. He changes things. It changes everything."

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

;t=99s

Not surprised, seems like a good kid, good team player and smart passer

[JMAC3]

Watching the first half of Kentucky v Florida and I really think Reed Sheppard is going to be very good. He can do it all - initiate an offense, shoot, drive to the rim, plays much bigger than his size. He's just got such incredible basketball IQ.

He finishes efficiently at the rim through traffic despite his size. He has that innate ability to hold up the layup in mid air to avoid a block and soft hands to still get it in. It's obviously going to be harder doing that against NBA players but he's so crafty and smart that he's going to find a way to make it work IMO.

I think he is a very good college basketball player, but I do not think he is built for the NBA.

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He is 6-2, if you are drafting him in the top 10 you have to assume he can be a starting pg in the NBA, which I have my doubts. I see him more as a backup guard that can play on or off the ball in the right lineups. I start to consider those guys typically around 15 at the highest. His shooting is good but other than that I don't think he does anything great.

For instance, he has some pretty awful passes in this game where he jumps and then has nowhere to go with the ball. He also probably gave up the 2 most important shots in the game. The three to force OT where he got caught too far off his man and then the corner three in OT where again he is just not close enough to his guy. I get his advanced defensive numbers look good but most college teams are running lineups with two small guards majority of the game. That isn't the case in NBA and you can't just play zone to avoid that all game long like you can in college.

For Hornets specifically, how does drafting him make sense? Are you trying to jam him in at the 2 with Miller at the 3 and LaMelo at the 1? Rozier was 6-2 but with a 6-8 wingspan. Sheppard will probably have a 6-3 wingspan.

[Lwcasu]

Watching the first half of Kentucky v Florida and I really think Reed Sheppard is going to be very good. He can do it all - initiate an offense, shoot, drive to the rim, plays much bigger than his size. He's just got such incredible basketball IQ.

He finishes efficiently at the rim through traffic despite his size. He has that innate ability to hold up the layup in mid air to avoid a block and soft hands to still get it in. It's obviously going to be harder doing that against NBA players but he's so crafty and smart that he's going to find a way to make it work IMO.

I think he is a very good college basketball player, but I do not think he is built for the NBA.

Watch on YouTube

He is 6-2, if you are drafting him in the top 10 you have to assume he can be a starting pg in the NBA, which I have my doubts. I see him more as a backup guard that can play on or off the ball in the right lineups. I start to consider those guys typically around 15 at the highest. His shooting is good but other than that I don't think he does anything great.

For instance, he has some pretty awful passes in this game where he jumps and then has nowhere to go with the ball. He also probably gave up the 2 most important shots in the game. The three to force OT where he got caught too far off his man and then the corner three in OT where again he is just not close enough to his guy. I get his advanced defensive numbers look good but most college teams are running lineups with two small guards majority of the game. That isn't the case in NBA and you can't just play zone to avoid that all game long like you can in college.

For Hornets specifically, how does drafting him make sense? Are you trying to jam him in at the 2 with Miller at the 3 and LaMelo at the 1? Rozier was 6-2 but with a 6-8 wingspan. Sheppard will probably have a 6-3 wingspan.

Drafting him makes sense because your franchise number 1 is very injury prone. I’m gonna get flak and some will agree about this but I think it’s a worthwhile conversation.

If Steve Nash as a Freshman was coming out of college today, would the same things be said? I believe he took his team deep into the tournament (not looking it up but pretty sure) his Freshman year. He didn’t really develop his style until getting traded back to the suns but was a good player for the Mavericks.

Anyways, my point is, he was 6” 3” with three inches longer on the wingspan, and was told by a lot of people he couldn’t have made it in the NBA. Yes, different generation but my question is could Nash succeed in the modern NBA. If that is Reeds upper most ceiling and the draft class is considered “weak” (I don’t necessarily buy that), your star PG can’t stay on the floor—then why not take a gamble?

[luciano-davidwesley]

He definitely can play point in the NBA. I'm convinced after watching him start that game at point versus Florida. I think your points regarding the translateable archetype from college to the NBA are normally very valid JMac but I think you are putting too much stock into his skin colour and wingspan measurables.

He was cooking at the rim and in the mid range in this game. He's not just a catch and shoot 3 point bomber. I agree he does jump with the ball too much and resorts to passing before landing and that will get exploited if not fixed. That's something he needs to work on.

This guy just can flat out play. He's the exception to the rule. He's the anti-Kai Jones.

This guy is not a Christian Laettner. Teams outside of the top 5 picks in this draft (and maybe inside the top 5 too) should absolutely consider him. Let's face it the average pick 6-10 is very hit and miss. Sheppard has such a high floor he almost can't be worse than a billionaire's Devontae Graham.

He's going to make a few teams regret not taking him as I'm sure there will be plenty of teams that will turn their nose up at his production and play and hyper focus on his measureables (and ethnicity as a non-euro - dare I say it out loud)

[MasterIchiro]

Is there a Cam Whitmore in this draft? Should we ask Dean On Draft?

[Snidely FC]

Stephon Castle after return from injury is playing his way back into Top 7 conversation. A 6’6 215# primary defender and secondary playmaker, someone with his physicality could be a nice backcourt complement to LaMelo.

Spoiler:

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[JDR720]

Sheppard is just a smart player that knows how to play. So I wouldn't worry about his pairing with Melo or whatever his ceiling is. This draft is supposedly weak, and he's the best shooter by far.

I feel like this is basically Scoot 2.0 arguments starting up again. Although unlike Scoot, Sheppard is unquestionably an elite shooter and more polished. He's basically the middle-ground between Scoot and Miller. Gives us Melo injury insurance at PG and can start along side him, and "plays the right way" with a high-floor that fits well in todays league.

As for player comps, and not to compare him to another white guy, but Austin Reaves would probably be a decent comp.

I wouldn't pick him with the #1/2 pick, but if we end up that far up I'd trade down in the 5th pick range and get him. None of these other guys seem all that great.

[JDR720]

Early in this college season, Sheppard surprisingly broke out as Kentucky’s best two-way player despite being a freshman. While it was expected he would be a solid player, he quickly became perhaps the team’s most important player early on which few saw coming on such a talented roster. Whether it was scoring — especially from beyond the arc — or being a defensive playmaker, he was doing it all from the very first week of the season.

On the defensive end specifically, he has been ridiculous at the point of attack and has racked up a ton of steals this season. Sheppard has a clear role in the NBA as a 3-and-D lead guard with some playmaking ability. He’s made a name for himself as being able to make smart rotations and playing quality on-ball defense that doesn't always see the stat sheet.

Offensively the 3-point shot is clearly a strong point of Sheppard’s game, but he also shoots incredibly efficient at the rim and can hit jumpers in spot-up situations or on the move. His feel for the game on both ends of the floor, efficiency and advanced playmaking ability cannot be ignored. He’s had quite a few games this season in which the passing and vision has been clear, with high assist numbers as a result.

Sheppard is a Kentucky native and was a legend in the high school scene for the state. The former four-star recruit was very impactful at the high school level, but few expected his leap to college to get off to such a hot start. Sheppard has the basketball genes, as both of his parents played at Kentucky, with his dad also wearing No. 15 while he helped the Wildcats win two national championships.

So. He's an elite shooter. A good finisher. A good defender. A solid passer. High IQ.

What's not to like? That's literally exactly what we need on this team.

https://www.si.com/nba/draft/prospect-profiles/nba-draft-scouting-report-kentuckys-reed-sheppard-

[Diop]

G'day, mate, Johnny Furphy playing like a Top 10 pick of late

The emergence of Johnny Furphy over the past few weeks has eliminated one of Kansas' weaknesses, which was a lack of a consistent player outside its big four veterans. The freshman from Australia has started the past six games and scored in double figures every time he has played 20 or more minutes this season. He's averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and shooting 43.9% from 3 in his past five games.

"He's every bit of 6-foot-8 if not taller, he's athletic vertically and he makes shots," a coach said. "He spaces the floor. He changes things. It changes everything."

Spoiler:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

;t=99s

Not surprised, seems like a good kid, good team player and smart passer

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Love the tough defense

[SWedd523]

Johnny Furphy is a horrible name

[wilson115]

Since Sheppard's an undersized guard who plays good defense, I think a more valid comparison is this guy. Who was around for him? Is it true he was 6-foot flat with a 6'1" wingspan?

Spoiler:

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[KingCat]

Feels like it was much easier to get away with being super small in previous eras. Now a days you got huge dudes like Tatum and Doncic dribbling the ball like point guards and switching and then bullying smaller guys every possession.

I mean Trae young is a offensive monster, yet people question how valuable he is due to being a tiny defensive liability come playoffs.

Im not saying that smaller dudes like Nash and Stockton would have been just Payton Pritchards in todays era, but their value would not have been quite as high as during their time.

[luciano-davidwesley]

Since Sheppard's an undersized guard who plays good defense, I think a more valid comparison is this guy. Who was around for him? Is it true he was 6-foot flat with a 6'1" wingspan?

Spoiler:

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Funnily enough I was thinking about this as a comp given the steals and general archetype.

Sheppard is a much better shooter than Stockton was in college and his rookie years in the NBA. Stockton was obviously a much better passer and playmaker though.

[Lwcasu]

Feels like it was much easier to get away with being super small in previous eras. Now a days you got huge dudes like Tatum and Doncic dribbling the ball like point guards and switching and then bullying smaller guys every possession.

I mean Trae young is a offensive monster, yet people question how valuable he is due to being a tiny defensive liability come playoffs.

Im not saying that smaller dudes like Nash and Stockton would have been just Payton Pritchards in todays era, but their value would not have been quite as high as during their time.

I actually think Nash would have been better in this era. But, I also think he would be forced to adapt and shoot more thus more PPG and similar assist numbers. Maybe approaching Curry numbers. Not far fetched for a guy with his efficiency. He just always looked to pass over shoot.

[Trey24]

I watched Sheppard last night and saw a ton of red flags. I saw a lot more NBA game out of Dillingham.

[Snidely FC]

Johnny Furphy is a horrible name

Telling a furphy is about as Australian as it gets, the joy of pulling someone’s leg with a yarn as long as your arm.Tall tales are as free flowing as the beer. In Australia, telling furphies isn’t just a way to fill the silence… It’s an art form.

[JMAC3]

Steve Nash was also the 15th pick, I am not saying he for sure can't become him but I am talking about the most likely outcomes. Steve Nash was also the best player on his college team his final 3 years at Santa Clara, not sure Sheppard is even the 3rd best player on Kentucky right now.

His steals and blocks % looks fine and dandy, but I think he will be a poor defender in NBA based on his tools. Kentucky has lost their last 2 games and been cooked by opponents guards both games. Sheppard had 5 fouls because he is often overmatched at the college level by guys that are praying to play pro in Turkey some day.